Amphibious caravan



May 28, 1963 A. B. FRANKS AMPHIBIOUS CARAVAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 24, 1961 /v /ENTOR I4LF/EED B. FRA/VKS May 28, 1963 Filed Nov. 24, 1961 BY w/ W United States Patent 3,090,975 AMPIMIOUS CARAVAN Alfred Bernard Franks, 37 Delmar Parade, Glades Bay, Gladesville, near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Filed Nov. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 154,781 iaims priority, application Australia Nov. 24, 196i 1 Claim. (Cl. 9-1) This invention has been devised to provide an amphibious caravan mounted on wheels and having buoyancy units connected thereto by means which enable the buoyancy units to be supported on top of the caravan for road transport and which enable the buoyancy units to be moved to a position to support the caravan on water.

One embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are perspective views of the caravan with the buoyancy units supported on the top of a caravan and in caravan floating support position respectively;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are side elevations of the caravan with the buoyancy units in the positions shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 respectively;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevation of the caravan with the buoyancy units in the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 4;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are fragmentary perspective views of one of the devices which are used to hold the buoyancy units in the positions shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

In this embodiment of the invention the buoyancy units 1 are two flat-topped pontoons with a out water nose 2. The pontoons are made of a shell of marine plywood or resin bonded fibre glass which is filled with a foamed or expanded synthetic resin (i.e. polyurethane). They are so much longer than a caravan as is necessary to support a decking 3, 4 at each end respectively. Catches 5 hold the decking in place on the pontoons when the pontoons are in caravan supporting position. In addition, the catches 5 achieve an interlock of the decking 3-4 with the pontoons 1 thus forming a catamaran-like structure. The decking 4 is constructed to support an outboard motor which is indicated by the reference 6.

Two tubular posts 7 having foot plates 8 are mounted on the top of each pontoon adjacent the longitudinal edge next to the caravan. Braces may be incorporated to make the post-pontoon assembly rigid.

3,996,975 Patented May 28, 1963 ice When the pontoons are in caravan supporting position the sides of the caravan rest upon the pontoons as shown in FIGURES 2 and 5.

Two clevis brackets 9 are fixed to each side wall 9a of the caravan 10 at mid-heighth; they are located to hold the pontoons in a selected position relative to the caravan, and to permit the pontoons to be moved from a stowage position on top of the caravan to a caravan water borne position as illustrated in the drawings. A hinge pin 11 in the top of each post 7 supports the pontoons in the clevis brackets.

Brackets 12 and 13 are also fixed to each side wall 9a; one pair adjacent the top thereof and the other pair adjacent the bottom and in alignment with the respective clevis brackets 9. These brackets 12, 13 (FIGURES 6-7) are made of plate which is shaped to provide wedge slots 14. A clamp plate 15 shaped to embrace a tubular post 7 has wedge ends 16 made to fit in the wedge slots 14 and a handle 17 whereby it can be moved into and out of post holding position. Means, such as locking pins, may be provided to secure the clamp plate in post holding position.

I claim:

An amphibious caravan comprising, in combination, a caravan body including a floor, side, and end walls, and a roof, wheels beneath the floor, a pair of spaced posts having their inner ends pivotally connected substantially to the horizontal median line of said opposite side walls, and a pair of pontoons each having a top wall connected medially to the outer ends of each pair of related posts, whereby, when the pontoons are elevated the outer edge portions of the top walls thereof overlie and rest on the side portions of the top wall of the caravan body, and, when the pontoons are lowered the inner edge portions of the top walls thereof underlie the floor of said caravan body to support the latter above the surface of the Water.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,588,084 Bushfield Mar. 4, 1952 2,802,221 OMara Aug. 13, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 177,216 Great Britain Mar. 14, 1922 318,048 Great Britain Aug. 29, 1929 501,126 Italy Nov. 23, 1954 

